Connector rod



Dec. 6, 1949 w. E. LUNDGREN 2,490,223

CONNECTOR ROD Filed March 30, 1948 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 6, 1949 UNITEDSTATES PATEN T ()FFICFE CONNECTOR ROD Appi'ication March .30, 1948,Serial No. 17,891

The present invention relates to a new and improved connector rodbetween the filling feeler slide mechanism of a fly shuttle loom.

In a conventional loom the operation of the transferring or replenishingmechanism is initiated by the rotation of a starting rod. A feelercontrolled slide mechanism has a filling cam follower, provided with atrip, which through filling motion cam is brought forward each time theshuttle is checked in the left-hand side of the loom. A feeler slidelocated between the filling cam follower and the starting rod isordinarily .held in a position that does not engage the trip. A feelermechanism operates to detect substantial exhaustion of the fillingsupply in. the bobbin and when this condition is indicated, a fillingfeeler connector rod is put into action to cause feeler slide to engagesaid trip, so that said slide is moved into position to rotate thestarting rod and thereby initiate operation of the replenishingmechanism. ihe feeler mechanism comprises a spring-pressed feelerindicator arm mounted for pivotal movement and carrying a feeler tipwhich comes into engagement with the bobbin during the beat-up movementof the lay. So long as the feeler tip engages yarn on the bobbin, it isrestrained against indicating movement by the comparatively soft mass ofyarn. When the bobbin is nearing exhaustion and the feeler tip finds abare portion of the bobbin during beatup movement, said tip slips on thedenuded portion of the bobbin, thereby tilting the feeler indicator arminto actuating engagement with one end of the filling feeler connectorrod causing said rod to move endwise against the action of a spring. Theendwise movement of the connector rod locks the slide to the trip tocause the movement of the filling feeler slide .to rotate the startingrod upon the next forward stroke of the trip.

The filling feeler connector rod must, be adjusted in length for correcttiming of operation of the filling feeler slide. Also, it is importantthat the end of the filling feeler connector rod nearest the fillingfeeler indicator arm be maintained at a proper clearance distance fromsaid arm in inoperative position of said arm, to assure properindications upon absence of filling and to assure against falseindications.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedfilling feeler connector rod constructed to permit its easy lengthwiseadjustment and at the same time to maintain a predetermined clearancedistance between the feeler end of said rod and the indicator feeler 8Claims. (01. 139-281) 2 arm when said arm is in non-indicating position.

In carrying out certain features of the present invention, the fillingfeeler connector rod has a length adjusting loop near its feeler end.The end section of the loop nearest its feeler end is offset from theadjoining end :section and is pressed by the action of a sprin intoengagement with the frame or case mounting the feeler indicator arm. Theend feeler section of the connector rod passes through a wall of thefeeler frame or case, so that the feeler end of said connector rod is inthe path of indicating movement of the feeler indicator arm. Thisarrangement serves to predetermine the position of the feeler end of theconnector rod with respect to the feeler indicator arm and sinceadjustments the length of the connector rod are made by pulling :orpushing .at the ends of the loop, said feeler rod end will always remainat a constant distance from the wall engaging and section of the loopregardless .of any adjustments in said loop. The proper distance betweenthe feeler rod end and the feeler indicator arm will there- Iore beassured vior all adjustments of rod length.

Various other objects, features and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following particular description and from aninspection of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top frontperspective of the lefthand side of the loom showing a portion of thefilling feeler mechanism, a portion of the filling feeler slidemechanism and the connector rod embodying the present invention disposedbetween the two mechanisms;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the connector rod;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective of portion of the filling feelermechanism in non-indicating position and the .end portion of theconnector rod associated therewith;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective of portion of the filling feelerslide mechanism and the end portion of the connector rod associatedtherewith and shows said rod in non-indicating position; .and

Fig. '5 is a perspective similar to that shown in Fig. 4 except that theconnector rod is shown moved endwise by the feeler mechanism in positionto cause the slide to move forward on the next forward stroke of thefilling cam follower.

The. loom to which the filling feeler connection rod ofv the presentinvention may be applied may be of the general. standard. type and maycomprise a conventional feeler mechanism in which a feeler tip is movedsidewise along the bare portion of a nearly exhausted bobbin to actuatea feeler connector rod or may comprise the improved feeler mechanism If]as shown, forming the subject matter of a copending application SerialNo. 708,638, filed November 8, 1946, now Patent No. 2,445,695. Theimproved feeler mechanism It) comprises generally a springpresseolfeeler rod l I mounted for endwise movement in a fixed frame 01' case l2and pivotally carrying a feeler tip 13 presenting a curved feelersurface M. A spring-pressed indicator arm pivotally secured to thefeeler tip [3 ismounted for endwise and angular movement in the case l2.wise movement has its feeler end in the angular path of movement of theindicator arm. [5.

The feeler mechanism Ill is mounted on one side of the loom, as forexample, on the left side and in front of the picking course of theshuttle. Upon each forward beat-up movement of the lay, the checkedbobbin engages the feeler tip l3. When the bobbin has an ample supply offilling yarn, the yarn provides enough friction to prevent rotation ofthe tip I3 about its pivotal mounting so that the indicator arm I5 ismoved endwise by the advancing bobbin without actuating the connectorrod ll.

When the supply of yarn on the bobbin is nearly exhausted, and a bareportion of the bobbin engages the feeler tip 13 on the beat-up stroke ofthe lay, the feeler tip [3 rotates about its pivotal mounting to causethe indicator arm IE to tilt sin ularly into engagement with one end ofthe connector rod 11, to move said rod endwise against the action of aspring 20 at its other end. At said other end, the connector rod lloperates a filling feeler slide mechanism 2| to initiate the operationof the replenishing mechanism.

The filling feeler slide mechanism 2| may be of the standard type or maybe of the improved type shown herein and described more fully incopending application Serial No. 706,826, filed October 31, 1946, nowPatent No. 2, l4=3,401. In this improved feeler slide mechanism, thereis provided the usual starting rod (not shown) which upon rotation,initiates the operation of the replenishing mechanism in a manner wellknown in the art. For rotating this starting rod, there is rigidlyconnected thereto a crank arm (not shown) having at its outer end aknuckle joint connection to one end of a short rod, the other end beingsecured to the forward end of a filling feeler slide 22. The slide 22 isguided for horizontal movement forwardly and rearwardly along a bedplate 23, mounted on frame plates 22 constituting the left loomside, andis maintained in inoperative forward position by a spring (not shown)acting on the starting rod, and by a stop (not shown) for said rodoperating against the force of said spring in a manner well-known in theA filling cam follower (not shown) is provided released to permit saiddog to operate idly in the slot and which is automatically tripped bythe A feeler connector rod I! mounted for end-' 4 connector rod I! tolock said slide to said dog and thereby cause the forward movement ofthe slide in a direction to rotate the starting rod upon the nextforward movement of the cam follower dog. The latch comprises a plungeror slide bolt (not shown) having a slide fit in a bore 3! in the slide22 and connected to the cam follower dog.

As the cam follower is oscillated, the latch bolt is moved idly therebyin the slide 22. To latch the bolt to the slide 22 upon actuation of theconnector rod ll, there is provided a trip plunger 32 and a ball catchpiece (not shown) in said slide between said trip plunger and said bolt.The ball catch piece is normally inactive in the position of theconnector rod I! shown in Fig. 4, to permit the idle movement of thebolt in the slide 22 and is adapted to be cammed by the trip plunger 32into position to lock said bolt to said slide, when said trip plunger ismoved against the action of the spring 26 by the connector rod ll, upondetection of absence of filling, as shown in Fig. 5.

The trip plunger 32 has a head 33 with an apertured lug 3A to which oneend of the connector rod I7 is anchored by means of a hook connection35. The spring 20 encircling the trip plunger 32 bears at one endagainst the outside of the slide 22 and at the other end against thehead 33 to maintain the trip plunger normally in unlatching position andto urge the connector rod ll towards the filler indicator arm l5.

As an important feature of the present invention, the connector rod llis constructed to permit its easy lengthwise adjustment, whilemaintaining the feeler end of said rod at a predetermined constantdistance with respect to the feeler indicator arm I5. To that end, theconnector rod I? is made of stiff though bendable metal wire, such asbrass, and the end section of said rod nearest the feeler mechanism hasa loop 40 desirably in the form of a circular coil consisting of aboutone and one-half convolutions, so that the rod sections 4! and 32 beyondthe ends of said loop extend in substantial alignment diametrically ofsaid loop. The end section 43 of the loop 48 nearest the feeler end ofthe connector rod [7, being substantially right-singularly offset fromthe feeler end section ll of said rod, engages the side wall 45 of thefeeler case I? in inoperative postion of said rod, while said feeler endsection 4| extends through said case wall with a slide fit and rests ona shelf 46 at the rear end of said case.

While there are no feeler indications, the coil spring 20 presses theconnector rod ll lengthwise and causes thereby the offset end loopsection 42 to abut the side case wall 45 as shown in Fig. 3. In thislimiting position, the feeler end of the connector rod I! will be spacedthe required distance from the indicator arm 15. Any vibrations of theinactive indicator arm IE will, therefore, not be transmitted to thefeeler end of the connector rod ll. The clearance between the feeler endof the connector rod I? and the indicator arm I5 is, however, smallenough so that angular indicating movements of said indicator arm willbe almost immediately transmitted to the connector rod [1.

The length of the connector rod I! can be easily adjusted by merelypulling or pushing on the rod sections 4! and 42, according to whetherit is desired to shorten or lengthen said rod, to cause expansion orcontraction of the loop 48 therebetween. This loop straining action willcause a corresponding change in the overall length of the connector rodl1 without changing the length of the feeler end connector section 4|.Therefore, regardless of any adjustments in the length of connector rod11, the outer feeler end of the connector rod in inoperative position ofsaid connector rod, will always be at a fixed distance from theindicator arm I5.

It should be noted that the connector rod of the present invention mayeasily replace the conventional connector rod in existing looms.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to aspecific embodiment, it is to be understood it is not to be limitedthereto but is to be construed broadly and restricted solely by thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a loom having a filling feeler mechanism with a frame structureand a filling feeler slide mechanism, a connector rod for transmittingindications from said feeler mechanism to said slide mechanism, saidconnector rod having a loop near its feeler end to permit said rod to beadjusted lengthwise by a straining of said loop, the end section of saidloop nearest said feeler rod end being offset from the adjoining endsection of said rod for stop engagement with said frame structure ininoperative position of said connector rod, whereby the position of saidfeeler rod end with respect to the rod actuating part of said feelermechanism is fixed, irrespective of adjustments in the length of saidrod.

2. In a loom, a connector rod as described in claim 1, said loop beingin the form of a coil having approximately one and one-halfsubstantially circular convolutions, so that the sections of said rodbeyond the ends of said loop are disposed substantially in alignmentdiametrically of said loop.

3. In a loom, a connector rod as described in claim 1, said loop beingin the form of a coil having one or more substantially circularconvolutions, the sections of said rod beyond the ends of said loopbeing disposed substantially in align ment diametrically of said loop. 7

4. In a loom having a filling feeler mechanism with a frame case and afilling feeler slide mech-.

anism, a connector rod for transmitting indications from said feelermechanism to said slide mechanism, spring-pressed endwise towards saidfeeler mechanism and having a loop near its feeler end to permit saidrod to be adjusted lengthwise by expansion or contraction of said loop,the end section of said loop nearest said feeler rod end being offsetfrom the adjoining feeler end section of said rod for stop springpressedengagement with a side wall of said frame case in inoperative positionof said connector rod, whereby the position of said feeler rod end withrespect to the rod actuating part of said feeler mechanism is fixed,irrespective of adjustments in the length of said rod.

5. In a loom having a filling feeler mechanism with a frame case and afilling feeler slide mechanism, a connector rod for transmittingindications from said feeler mechanism to said slide mechanism,spring-pressed endwise towards said feeler mechanism and having a coilnear its feeler end with approximately one and one-half substantiallycircular convolutions, so that the sections of said rod beyond the endsof said coil are disposed substantially in alignment diametrically ofsaid coil, said coil permitting said rod to be adjusted lengthwise byexpansion or contraction of said coil, the offset end section of saidcoil nearest said feeler rod end being springpressed against a side wallof said frame case in inoperative position of said connector rod,whereby the position of said feeler rod end with respect to the rodactuating part of said feeler mechanism is fixed irrespective ofadjustments in the length of said rod.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a filling feeler connector rod fora, loom, having a length adjusting loop near the feeler end, the endsection of said loop near said feeler end being offset from theadjoining feeler end section of said rod to engage a fixed frame part ofthe feeler mechanism of the loom in inoperative position of saidconnector rod and to position thereby the feeler end of said rod at afixed constant distance from the connector rod actuating part of saidfeeler mechanism, the other end of said rod having means for attachmentto a latching part of a filling feeler slide mechanism.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a filling feeler connector rod for aloom, as described in claim 6, said loop being in the form of a coilhaving approximately one and one-half substantially circularconvolutions so that the sections of said rod beyond the ends of saidloop are disposed substantially in alignment diametrically of said loop.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a filling feeler connector rod for aloom as described in claim 6, said loop being in the form of a coilhaving one or more substantially circular convolutions, the sections ofsaid rod beyond the ends of said loop being disposed substantially inalignment diametrically of said loop.

WILLIAM E. LUNDGREN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,387,323 Snow Aug. 9, 19211,593,426 Brown et a1. July 20, 1926 1,993,146 Bush Mar. 5, 19352,085,716 Killars June 29, 1937

